Do these sentences make sense? Im a bit confused on when to use des,de,du etc. versus l',les,la,le etc.
-Il vous faut de jambon, le baguette, et du fromage.
-Il vous faut des fruits et des sucre.
-Il vous faut le steak et les frites.
-Il vous faut les oeufs et le fromage.
-Il vous faut les tomates, le fromage, et les legumes.
-Il vous faut les tomates, le fromage, et la laitue.
3 answers
I'll send this to our French expert, SraJMcGin.
When it is specific: the ham, the book, etc. it uses the definite article: le, la, les.
However when it implies "some" ham, books, etc. it does the de la, du, des construction.
The Partitive and other uses of "de"
1. de + the definite article of the noun = du beurre, de la soie
2. de without the article after a negative: Je n'ai pas fait de fautes / Il n'a guère d'amis.
3. de without the article when an adjective precedes a plural noun = de vieux souliers / de longues rues
4. de with or without the ariticle when an adjective precedes a singular noun: du bon cidre OR de bon cidre = the more common is the first.
some and any MUST be expressed in French and must be repeated before each noun even though they are often omitted in English: Voulez-vous du poisson ou de la viande et des légumes?
Special uses:
1. Keep the definite article before an adjective in the plural when the adjective is consider3ed part of the noun: des jeunes filles / des petit5s pains / de petits pois
2. after ne...que (only), de is used with the article, provided there is no adjective preceding the noun = Nous ne lisons que de romans.
3. after "sans" (without), ne...ni...ni (n either...n or) and expressions taking "de" the partitive is omitted = C'est un livre sans images. / Nanette ne boit ni thé ni café. / As-tu besoi \n de billets?
4. The idea of "some" or "ay" is translated by "en " if the noun is omitted. "En" like personal pronoun objects precedes the verb, except in affirmatie commands.: A-t-il écrit de lettres? Oui, il en a écrit. / Écrivez-en.
5. then there are certain adverbs of quantity which are followed by "de" without the article before a noun; = assez de / autant de / beaucoup de / combien de / moins de / peu de / plus de / que de / tant de / trop de
6. Nouns of quantity or measure are followed by "de" without the article before another noun. Here are some: = une boîte, une bouteille, une douzaine, u ne foule, un kilo, un litre, une livre, un mètre, un morceau, un nombre, une paire, un panier, un paquet, un sac, une tasse, un verre
NOTE: 1. The adverb "bien" (much, many) and the noun "la pluparaat" ( most) are exceptional. They are followed by "de" and the definite article. ' Ils ont bien des devoirs (but beaucoup de devoirs) / La plupart des élèves réussissent.
2. Plusieurs (several) and quelques (some, a few) are adjectives and modify the noun directly = plusieurs aflches / quelques minutes
3. If the noun is omitted after a word of quantity, the noun ust be replaced by the p0ronun "en." = A=tu du lait? Oui,l j'en ai.
4. Note the distinction between the use of "de" in the sen se of contain int, and "à" in the sense of designed for: une tasse de thé / une tasse à thé (a cup of tea / a teacup)
5. Nouns of Material; of which an object is made are preceded by "de" or "en" without the article. = une pièce d'or = a gold coin
des vêtements en laine = woolen clothing
Possession & Relationship with de r where English generally uses 's or s', French uses de in some form.
les patins de Michel le bureau du directeur / le mari de l'actrice / la grand-mere des e nfants
So, yes, this can be confusing! Now, let me check what you have above.
Sra (aka Mme)
However when it implies "some" ham, books, etc. it does the de la, du, des construction.
The Partitive and other uses of "de"
1. de + the definite article of the noun = du beurre, de la soie
2. de without the article after a negative: Je n'ai pas fait de fautes / Il n'a guère d'amis.
3. de without the article when an adjective precedes a plural noun = de vieux souliers / de longues rues
4. de with or without the ariticle when an adjective precedes a singular noun: du bon cidre OR de bon cidre = the more common is the first.
some and any MUST be expressed in French and must be repeated before each noun even though they are often omitted in English: Voulez-vous du poisson ou de la viande et des légumes?
Special uses:
1. Keep the definite article before an adjective in the plural when the adjective is consider3ed part of the noun: des jeunes filles / des petit5s pains / de petits pois
2. after ne...que (only), de is used with the article, provided there is no adjective preceding the noun = Nous ne lisons que de romans.
3. after "sans" (without), ne...ni...ni (n either...n or) and expressions taking "de" the partitive is omitted = C'est un livre sans images. / Nanette ne boit ni thé ni café. / As-tu besoi \n de billets?
4. The idea of "some" or "ay" is translated by "en " if the noun is omitted. "En" like personal pronoun objects precedes the verb, except in affirmatie commands.: A-t-il écrit de lettres? Oui, il en a écrit. / Écrivez-en.
5. then there are certain adverbs of quantity which are followed by "de" without the article before a noun; = assez de / autant de / beaucoup de / combien de / moins de / peu de / plus de / que de / tant de / trop de
6. Nouns of quantity or measure are followed by "de" without the article before another noun. Here are some: = une boîte, une bouteille, une douzaine, u ne foule, un kilo, un litre, une livre, un mètre, un morceau, un nombre, une paire, un panier, un paquet, un sac, une tasse, un verre
NOTE: 1. The adverb "bien" (much, many) and the noun "la pluparaat" ( most) are exceptional. They are followed by "de" and the definite article. ' Ils ont bien des devoirs (but beaucoup de devoirs) / La plupart des élèves réussissent.
2. Plusieurs (several) and quelques (some, a few) are adjectives and modify the noun directly = plusieurs aflches / quelques minutes
3. If the noun is omitted after a word of quantity, the noun ust be replaced by the p0ronun "en." = A=tu du lait? Oui,l j'en ai.
4. Note the distinction between the use of "de" in the sen se of contain int, and "à" in the sense of designed for: une tasse de thé / une tasse à thé (a cup of tea / a teacup)
5. Nouns of Material; of which an object is made are preceded by "de" or "en" without the article. = une pièce d'or = a gold coin
des vêtements en laine = woolen clothing
Possession & Relationship with de r where English generally uses 's or s', French uses de in some form.
les patins de Michel le bureau du directeur / le mari de l'actrice / la grand-mere des e nfants
So, yes, this can be confusing! Now, let me check what you have above.
Sra (aka Mme)
I can't tell what you thought you were saying above. Let's take the first one.
You need THE ham, THE baguette and THE cheese. (specific) = Il vous faut le jambon, la baguette et le fromage.
BUT
You need jam, baguette and cheese. (implying SOME) = Il vous faut du jambon, de la baguette et du fromage.
AND
You need the ham (specific), a baguette and some cheese. = Il vous faut le jambon, une baguette et du fromage.
You see it all depends upon what the speaker means!
Sra (aka Mme)
You need THE ham, THE baguette and THE cheese. (specific) = Il vous faut le jambon, la baguette et le fromage.
BUT
You need jam, baguette and cheese. (implying SOME) = Il vous faut du jambon, de la baguette et du fromage.
AND
You need the ham (specific), a baguette and some cheese. = Il vous faut le jambon, une baguette et du fromage.
You see it all depends upon what the speaker means!
Sra (aka Mme)
1 answer